Contractor insurance in Pennsylvania
General liability, workers' comp, tools, and bonds for Pennsylvania trades.
Or call (610) 800-4410 · Open Mon–Sat · 9 AM – 7 PM
- 1997 In insurance since Lionel A. Yates Sr.
- 6 days Open every week 9 AM – 7 PM ET
- 1 form To start a quote Underwriting review comes before binding
- PA-licensed Real agents Devon, Chester County
Your agents
What contractor insurance covers
Contractor insurance is bundled by trade. A roofer, an electrician, and a finish carpenter all need general liability, but the carriers that price each well are not the same. We write Pennsylvania trades across the full stack: general liability, workers' compensation, commercial auto for trucks and vans, inland marine for tools and equipment, and surety bonds when the customer or the AHJ requires one.
A common claim in residential trades is property damage during the job — a dropped tool, a saw cut into a pipe, a paint spill. General liability covers it. We usually start the conversation at $1M per occurrence and $2M aggregate.
Pennsylvania doesn't require a state contractor's license, but many municipalities and counties do. Some, like Philadelphia, require GL with specific limits and a copy of the COI on file. We pull the requirements before quoting so the policy actually matches what you need to register.
One thing contractors learn the hard way: the certificate of insurance is not just the gate to start a job. Plenty of GCs and property managers hold the check until a current COI is on file, so an expired certificate can stall the invoice as easily as the start date. That is why COI requests go to the front of our line once a policy is bound — neither your job nor your payment should wait on paperwork.
Three steps to a Pennsylvania quote
-
1
Tell us about the work
Your trade, revenue and payroll, how much you sub out, and the insurance terms in your contracts.
-
2
We shop the market
Class code and loss history drive the price. Underwriters may ask follow-up questions before they quote.
-
3
Bind and get your COI
Once the policy is bound, certificates come first: general contractors often hold payment until a current COI is on file.
Coverage types we write
-
General liability
Third-party bodily injury and property damage from your work. The coverage every contractor names first.
-
Workers' compensation
Required in Pennsylvania for almost all employers. Pays medical and lost wages when an employee is injured on the job.
-
Commercial auto
For trucks and vans titled to the business. Personal auto policies usually exclude business use.
-
Inland marine (tools & equipment)
Your tools and equipment when in transit, on a job site, or stolen from the truck overnight.
-
Surety bonds
Bid bonds, performance bonds, and license bonds. We write trade-specific surety through carriers that bond Pennsylvania contractors.
Why work with us
Why CY Financial for contractor insurance
-
Independent broker
We work for you, not a single carrier. Real comparisons, real choice.
-
Many carriers, one call
We price your risk across the carriers we can place you with — not one company's rate sheet — and show the numbers side by side.
-
Real licensed agents
Every call lands with a PA-licensed producer in our Devon office — six days a week, no phone tree, no hand-offs.
Contractor insurance by county
We write contractor coverage across the Pennsylvania counties we serve. Start with the metros below or browse the full state hub.
Frequently asked questions
How much general liability do I need as a contractor in PA?
The Pennsylvania Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act sets a minimum of $50,000 of liability for registered home-improvement contractors. Most general contractors carry $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate because that's what general contractors and homeowners ask for on the COI.
Do I need workers' compensation if it's just me?
Sole proprietors with no employees are not required to carry workers' comp in Pennsylvania, but a general contractor on the job above you almost always asks for it before letting you on site. Some sole owners carry it anyway because the GC won't bring them on without it.
What does a $1M general liability policy cost in Pennsylvania?
There is no flat rate. GL is priced on your trade, your payroll or gross receipts, the share of work you subcontract, and your claims history. Roofing, framing and HVAC sit higher than finish trades because the loss exposure is higher. We get specific numbers once we know the trade and the receipts.
Can you bond me for a job tomorrow?
Sometimes. Smaller license and permit bonds can often be issued quickly once the surety approves the application. Performance bonds depend on the job size and the contractor's financial statements, so they take longer. We can pre-qualify you for a bond program so the bond is ready when the job is.
Are subcontractors covered under my general liability?
Subs you hire are independent businesses. Your GL covers your direct work; the sub's GL covers the sub's work. We add hired/non-owned auto and ask for sub COIs as standard practice — most carriers expect it.
Go deeper
Related coverage
Other coverage
Ready to compare contractor carriers?
One ZIP code, one minute, real options.